Not Impeccable; impeachable

Washington was diagnosed with an IQ between 58 to69. Cruzâ€™s IQ was 63. The American Bar Association urged Bush to act, but this man who claims that he loves god did nothing to help one of godâ€™s children. Executing mentally impaired men was not too â€œexcessive.â€?

[Speaking Truth To Empower]

As the saying goes, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

If there was ever any doubt of that maxim’s truth all one has to do is witness what this shamelessly criminal Administration has just done in commuting the sentence of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who will now escape any penalty for his crimes.

But should we be surprised by any of this, since Libby’s lies were meant to conceal the impeachable criminality of this White House which violated the 1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act?

Libby was convicted on two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice, as well as one count of making false statements to federal prosecutors in relation to the scandalous outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame-Wilson.

Emperor Bush claims he is doing so because in his infinite wisdom he found the 30-month-sentence handed down by the judge to be “excessive.” He conveniently failed to mention that the judgment handed down is within federal sentencing guidelines.

He has abrogated for himself the power of the judiciary. Yet, here is a man who likes to give the world lectures on democracy and the “rule of law.” Yet, by this action the dictatorial leper has clearly shown his spots. Why should dictators like Pervez Musharaff in Pakistan listen to any more of his lectures?

While making the mendacious assertion that he “respected the jury’s verdict,” he gallingly stated his “decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment,” referring to convict Libby.

Do these people really think we are that stupid? What harsh punishment? The paltry $250,000 fine that his boss Vice President Dick Cheney no doubt probably helped him pay? The fact of the matter is Libby will now not spend one night in a prison cell. Many innocent brothers and sisters serving time deserve some of that commutation.

Also, while Bush believes Libby’s sentence was “excessive,” he had no problem executing Oliver David Cruz, or, Terry Washington, both mentally retarded convicts while he was Governor of Texas.

Washington was diagnosed with an IQ between 58 to69. Cruz’s IQ was 63. Swedish, French and other European officials begged this so-called Christian to spare the life of Cruz. The American Bar Association urged Bush to act, but this man who claims that he loves god did nothing to help one of god’s children. Executing mentally impaired men was not too “excessive.”

But let’s make no mistake about what’s going on here. This is the White House covering up its crimes. Now, some have made the disingenuous argument that “there was no underlying crime” committed in the outing of Plame-Wilson. Bull! And for all those people who believe that, I ask this: if there was no crime why did Libby lie to prosecutor Fitzgerald about facts that he must have known?

Some Bush apologist have argued that Plame-Wilson was not undercover at the time of her outing; therefore revealing her name was no crime. This is a baseless lie. She was a “non-official cover” agent; meaning that if she was ever caught on an overseas assignment she would have no diplomatic cover and could be executed on the spot.

Still, let’s assume that she wasn’t undercover, then the question that comes to mind is this: what was the purpose of revealing her name to the media? What did this Administration have to gain by doing so? Her husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson, was the one who was critical of the White House, so, why did they choose to attack her and not him?

Fact is, Bush retaliated against Wilson’s wife to silence him and to send a message to others who may dare to expose the Administration’s blatant lies.

Bush and Cheney with their lackeys were hell-bent on plunging the country into war and anyone who stood in the way of this war-for-oil-profit objectives had to be punished.

The outing of Plame-Wilson was a callously, calculated act by these trespassers in the White House. And the objective of Libby’s lies was to cover-up the illegally, treasonous tactics used in blowing her covert identity.

After Libby’s sentencing Bush stated “I will not intervene until his legal team has exhausted all of its avenues.” This statement is very revealing. For what he is saying here is that Libby was never in any danger of going to prison, because this White House would ensure that he did not face justice.

The statement is also telling us that a presidential pardon was inevitable; after all wasn’t Libby doing their dirty work? Surely, the Administration wasn’t going to risk Libby sitting in a prison cell where under pressure he might divulge all the ugly truths about how this White House which preaches “support our troops” decided to jeopardize the life of an agent of the United States and her assets overseas. It’s possible that Libby also made it clear that his silence wasn’t guaranteed. Wouldn’t you have, being in his shoes?

Under Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution of the United States, which Bush swore to protect and honor states “the President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Iraqgate; Plamegate; Memogate; Spygate; and……..Where are the calls for impeachment?

Benjamin is a member of The Black Star News's Editorial Board.

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